 18. Inga Parts with his pink pearl. The white pearl guided Inga truly in his pursuit of the boat of King Ghost, but the boy had been so delayed in sending his people home to Pingaree that it was a full day after Ghost and Cor landed on the shore of the Wheeler Country that Inga's boat arrived at the same place. There he found the forty rowers guarding the barge of Queen Cor, and although they would not, or could not, tell the boy where the king and queen had taken his father and mother, the white pearl advised him to follow the path to the country and the caverns of the gnomes. King Tink didn't like to undertake the rocky and mountainous journey, even with Bilbil to carry him, but he would not desert Inga, even though his own kingdom lay just beyond a range of mountains, which could be seen towering south-west of them. So the king bravely mounted the goat, who always grumbled but always obeyed his master, and the three set off at once for the caverns of the gnomes. They traveled just as slowly as Queen Cor and King Ghost had done, so when they were about half way they discovered the king and queen coming back to their boat. The fact that Ghost and Cor were now alone proved that they had left Inga's father and mother behind them, so at the suggestion of Rikitink the three hid behind a high rock, until the king of Rigos and the queen of Corigos, who had not observed them, had passed them by. Then they continued their journey, glad that they had not again been forced to fight or quarrel with their wicked enemies. We might have asked them, however, what they had done with your poor parents, said Rikitink. Never mind, answered Inga, I am sure the white pearl will guide us aright. For a time they proceeded in silence, and then Rikitink began to chuckle with laughter in the pleasant way he was wont to do, before his misfortunes came upon him. But amuses your majesty, inquired the boy. The thought of how surprised my dear subjects would be if they realized how near to them I am, and yet how far away. I have always wanted to visit the known country, which is full of mystery and magic and all sorts of adventures, but my devoted subjects forbade me to think of such a thing, fearing I would get hurt or enchanted. Are you afraid now that you are here? asked Inga. A little but not much, for they say the new-nome king is not as wicked as the old king used to be. Still we are undertaking a dangerous journey, and I think you ought to protect me by lending me one of your pearls. Inga thought this over, and it seemed a reasonable request. Which pearl would you like to have? asked the boy. Well, let us see, returned rinky-tink. You may need strength to liberate your captive parents, so you must keep the blue pearl, and you will need the advice of the white pearl, so you had best keep that also. But in case we should be separated, I would have nothing to protect me from harm, so you ought to lend me the pink pearl. Very well, agreed Inga, and sitting down upon a rock he removed his right shoe, and after withdrawing the cloth from the pointed toe, took out the pink pearl, the one which protected from any harm the person who carried it. Where can you put it to keep it safely? he asked. In my vest pocket replied the king. The pocket has a flap to it, and I can pin it down in such a way that the pearl cannot get out and become lost. As for robbery, no one with evil intent can touch my person while I have the pearl. So Inga gave rinky-tink the pink pearl, and the little king placed it in the pocket of his red and green brocaded velvet vest, pinning the flap of the pocket down tightly. They now resumed their journey, and finally reached the entrance to the gnome king's caverns. Placing the white pearl to his ear, Inga asked, What shall I do now? and the voice of the pearl replied, Clap your hands together four times and call aloud the word click. Then allow yourselves to be conducted to the gnome king, who is now holding your father and mother captive. Inga followed these instructions, and when click appeared in answer to his summons, the boy requested an audience of the gnome king. So click led them into the presence of King Calico, who was suffering from a severe headache due to his revelry the night before, and therefore was unusually cross and grumpy. I know what you've come for, said he, before Inga could speak. You want to get the captives from Rigos away from me, but you can't do it, so you'd best go away again. The captives are my father and mother, and I intend to liberate them, said the boy firmly. The king stared hard at Inga, wondering at his audacity. Then he turned to look at King Rinkitink and said, I suppose you are the king of Gilgad, which is in the kingdom of Rinkitink. You've guessed it the first time, replied Rinkitink. How round and fat you are, exclaimed Calico. I was just thinking how fat and round you are, said Rinkitink. Really, King Calico, we ought to be friends, since we're so much alike in everything but disposition and intelligence. Then he began to chuckle, while Calico stared hard at him, not knowing whether to accept his speech as a compliment or not. And now the gnome's eyes wandered to Bilbil, and he asked, Is that your talking goat? Bilbil met the gnome king's glowering look with a gaze equally surly and defiant, while Rinkitink answered, It is your majesty. Can he really talk, asked Calico curiously? He can, but the best thing he does is to scold, talk to his majesty Bilbil. But Bilbil remained silent and would not speak. Do you always ride upon his back, continued Calico, questioning Rinkitink? Yes, was the answer, because it is difficult for a fat man to walk far, as perhaps you know from experience. That is true, said Calico. Get off the goat's back and let me ride him a while to see how I like it. Perhaps I'll take him away from you to ride through my caverns. Rinkitink chuckled softly as he heard this, but at once got off Bilbil's back and let Calico get on. The gnome king was a little awkward, but when he was firmly astride the saddle he called in a loud voice, giddy up. When Bilbil paid no attention to the command and refused to stir, Calico kicked his heels viciously against the goat's body, and then Bilbil made a sudden start. He ran swiftly across the great cavern until he had almost reached the opposite wall, when he stopped so abruptly that King Calico sailed over his head and bumped against the jeweled wall. He bumped so hard that the points of his crown were all mashed out of shape, and his head was driven far into the diamond-studded band of the crown, so that it covered one eye and a part of his nose. Perhaps this saved Calico's head from being cracked against the rock wall, but it was hard on the crown. Bilbil was highly pleased at the success of his feet, and Rinky Tink laughed merrily at the gnome king's comical appearance, but Calico was muttering and growling as he picked himself up and struggled to pull the battered crown from his head, and it was evident that he was not in the least amused. Indeed Inga could see that the king was very angry, and the boy knew that the incident was likely to turn Calico against the entire party. The gnome king sent click for another crown, and ordered his workmen to repair the one that was damaged. While he waited for the new crown, he sat regarding his visitors with a scowling face, and this made Inga more uneasy than ever. Finally, when the new crown was placed upon his head, King Calico said, follow me, strangers, and led the way to a small door at one end of the cavern. Inga and Rinky Tink followed him through the doorway, and found themselves standing on a balcony that overlooked an enormous domed cave, so extensive that it seemed miles to the other side of it. All around this circular cave, which was brilliantly lighted from an unknown source, were arches connected with other caverns. Calico took a gold whistle from his pocket, and blew a shrill note that echoed through every part of the cave. Instantly gnomes began to pour in through the side arches in great numbers, until the immense space was packed with them as far as the eye could reach. All were armed with glittering weapons of polished silver and gold, and Inga was amazed that any king could command so great an army. They began marching and counter-marching in very orderly array, until another blast of the gold whistle sent them scurrying away as quickly as they had appeared. And as soon as the great cave was again empty, Calico returned with his visitors to his own royal chamber, where he once more seated himself upon his ivory throne. I have shown you, said he to Inga, a part of my bodyguard. The royal armies, of which this is only a part, are as numerous as the sands of the ocean, and live in many thousands of my underground caverns. You have come here thinking to force me to give up the captives of King Ghost and Queen Core, and I wanted to convince you that my power is too mighty for anyone to oppose. I am told that you are a wizard, and depend upon magic to aid you, but you must know that the gnomes are not mortals, and understand magic pretty well themselves. So if we are obliged to fight magic with magic, the chances are that we are a hundred times more powerful than you can be. Think this over carefully, my boy, and try to realize that you are in my power. I do not believe you can force me to liberate King Kitakat and Queen Giri, and I know that you cannot coax me to do so, for I have given my promise to King Ghost. Therefore, as I do not wish to hurt you, I ask you to go away peaceably, and let me alone. Forgive me if I do not agree with you, King Calico, answered the boy. However difficult and dangerous my task may be, I cannot leave your dominions until every effort to release my parents has failed, and left me completely discouraged. Very well, said the King, evidently displeased, I have warned you, and now, if evil overtakes you, it is your own fault. I have a headache today, so I cannot entertain you properly, according to your rank. But click will attend you to my guest chambers, and tomorrow I will talk with you again. This seemed a fair and courteous way to treat one's declared enemies, so they politely expressed the wish that Calico's headache would be better, and followed their guide click down a well-lighted passage and through several archways until they finally reached three nicely furnished bedchambers, which were cut from solid gray rock, and well lighted and aired by some mysterious method known to the gnomes. The first of these rooms was given King Rinky Tink, the second was Ingas, and the third was assigned to Bilbil the Goat. There was a swinging rock door between the third and second rooms, and another between the second and first, which also had a door that opened upon the passage. Rinky Tink's room was the largest, so it was here that an excellent dinner was spread by some of the gnomes servants, who in spite of their crooked shapes proved to be well trained and competent. You are not prisoners, you know, said Click. Neither are you welcome guests, having declared your purpose to oppose our mighty King and all his hosts. But we bear you no ill will, and you are to be well fed and cared for as long as you remain in our caverns. Eat hearty, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you. Saying this he left them alone, and at once Rinky Tink and Inga began to counsel together as to the best means to liberate King Kitakut and Queen Giri. The White Pearl's advice was rather unsatisfactory to the boy, just now, for all that the voice said in answer to his questions was, be patient, brave, and determined. Rinky Tink suggested that they try to discover in what part of the series of underground caverns Inga's parents had been confined, as that knowledge was necessary before they could take any action. So together they started out, leaving Bilbil asleep in his room and made their way unopposed through many corridors and caverns. In some places were great furnaces where gold dust was being melted into bricks. In other rooms workmen were fashioning the gold into various articles and ornaments. In one cavern immense wheels revolved which polished precious gems, and they found many caverns used as storerooms where treasure of every kind was piled high. Also they came to the barracks of the army and the great kitchens. There were gnomes everywhere, countless thousands of them, but none paid the slightest heed to the visitors from the earth's surface. Yet although Inga and Rinky Tink walked until they were weary, they were unable to locate the place where the boy's father and mother had been confined, and when they tried to return to their own rooms they found that they had hopelessly lost themselves amid the labyrinth of passages. However, Klick presently came to them, laughing at their discomforture, and led them back to their bedchambers. Before they went to sleep they carefully barred the door from Rinky Tink's room to the corridor, but the doors that connected the three rooms, one with another, were left wide open. In the night Inga was awakened by a soft-grading sound that filled him with anxiety because he could not account for it. It was dark in his room, the light having disappeared as soon as he got into bed, but he managed to feel his way to the door that led to Rinky Tink's room and found it tightly closed and immovable. Then he made his way to the opposite door, leading to Bilbill's room, to discover that also had been closed and fastened. The boy had a curious sensation that all of his room, the walls, floor, and ceiling, was slowly whirling as if on a pivot, and it was such an uncomfortable feeling that he got into bed again, not knowing what else to do. And as the grating noise had ceased, and the room now seemed stationary, he soon fell asleep again. When the boy awakened, after many hours, he found the room again light. So he dressed himself and discovered that a small table containing a breakfast that was smoking hot had suddenly appeared in the center of his room. He tried the two doors, but finding that he could not open them, he ate some breakfast, thoughtfully wondering who had locked him in and why he had been made a prisoner. Then he again went to the door, which he thought led to Rinky Tink's chamber, and to his surprise the latch lifted easily and the door swung open. Before him was a rude corridor, hewn in the rock and dimly lighted. It did not look inviting, so Inga closed the door, puzzled to know what had become of Rinky Tink's room and the king, and went to the opposite door. Opening this he found a solid wall of rock confronting him, which effectually prevented his escape in that direction. The boy now realized that King Calico had tricked him, and while professing to receive him as a guest, had plotted to separate him from his comrades. One way had been left, however, by which he might escape, and he decided to see where it led to. So going to the first door he opened it, and ventured slowly into the dimly lighted corridor. When he had advanced a few steps, he heard the door of his room slam shut behind him. He ran back at once, but the door of rock fitted so closely into the wall that he found it impossible to open it again. That did not matter so much, however, for the room was a prison, and the only way of escape seemed ahead of him. Along the corridor he crept until, turning a corner, he found himself in a large domed cavern that was empty and deserted. Here also was a dim light that permitted him to see another corridor at the opposite side, so he crossed the rocky floor of the cavern and entered a second corridor. This one twisted and turned in every direction, but was not very long, so soon the boy reached a second cavern, not so large as the first. This he found vacant also, but it had another corridor leading out of it, so Inga entered that. It was straight and short, and beyond was a third cavern, which differed little from the others, except that it had a strong iron grating at one side of it. All three of these caverns had been roughly hewn from the rock, and it seemed they had never been put to use, as had all the other caverns of the gnomes he had visited. Standing in the third cavern Inga saw what he thought was still another corridor at its farther side, so he walked toward it. This opening was dark, and the solemn silence all around him made him hesitate for a while to enter it. Upon reflection, however, he realized that unless he explored the place to the very end, he could not hope to escape from it, so he boldly entered the dark corridor and felt his way cautiously as he moved forward. Scarcely had he taken two paces when a crash resounded back of him, and a heavy sheet of steel closed the opening into the cavern from which he had just come. He paused a moment, but it still seemed best to proceed, and as Inga advanced in the dark, holding his hands outstretched before him to feel his way, handcuffs fell upon his wrists and locked themselves with a sharp click, and an instant later he found he was chained to a stout iron post set firmly in the rock floor. The chains were long enough to permit him to move a yard or so in any direction, and by feeling the walls he found he was in a small circular room that had no outlet except the passage by which he had entered, and that was now closed by the door of steel. This was the end of the series of caverns and corridors. It was now that the horror of his situation occurred to the boy with full force, but he resolved not to submit to his fate without a struggle, and realizing that he possessed the blue pearl which gave him marvellous strength, he quickly broke the chains and set himself free of the handcuffs. Next he twisted the steel door from its hinges, and creeping along the short passage found himself in the third cave. But now the dim light which had before guided him had vanished, yet on peering into the gloom of the cave he saw what appeared to be two round disks of flame which cast a subdued glow over the floor and walls. By this dull glow he made out the form of an enormous man, seated in the center of the cave, and he saw that the iron grating had been removed, permitting the man to enter. The giant was unclothed and its limbs were thickly covered with coarse red hair. The round disks of flame were its two eyes, and when it opened its mouth to yawn Inga saw that its jaws were wide enough to crush a dozen men between the great rows of teeth. Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy crouching at the other side of the cavern, so he called out in a hoarse, rude voice, Come hither, my pretty one, we will wrestle together, you and I, and if you succeed in throwing me I will let you pass through my cave. The boy made no reply to the challenge. He realized he was in dire peril and regretted that he had lent the pink pearl to King Rinky Tink, but it was now too late for vain regrets, although he feared that even his great strength would avail him little against this hairy monster. For his arms were not long enough to span a fourth of the giant's huge body, while the monster's powerful limbs would be likely to crush out Inga's life before he could gain the mastery. Therefore the prince resolved to employ other means to combat this foe, who had doubtless been placed there to bar his return. Retreating through the passage he reached the room where he had been chained and wrenched the iron post from its socket. It was a foot thick and four feet long, and being of solid iron was so heavy that three ordinary men would have found it hard to lift. Returning to the cavern the boy swung the great bar above his head and dashed it with mighty force full at the giant. The end of the bar struck the monster upon its forehead, and with a single groan it fell full length upon the floor and lay still. When the giant fell the glow from its eyes faded away and all was dark. Cautiously for Inga was not sure the giant was dead. The boy felt his way toward the opening that led to the middle cavern. The entrance was narrow and the darkness was intense, but, feeling braver now, the boy stepped boldly forward. Instantly the floor began to sink beneath him, and in great alarm he turned and made a leap that enabled him to grasp the rocky sides of the wall and regain a footing in the passage through which he had just come. Scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when a mighty crash resounded throughout the cavern and the sound of a rushing torrent came from far below. Inga felt in his pocket and found several matches, one of which he lighted and held before him. While it flickered he saw that the entire floor of the cavern had fallen away, and knew that had he not instantly regained his footing in the passage he would have plunged into the abyss that lay beneath him. By the light of another match he saw the opening at the other side of the cave, and the thought came to him that possibly he might leap across the gulf. Of course this could never be accomplished without the marvelous strength lent him by the blue pearl, but Inga had the feeling that one powerful spring might carry him over the chasm into safety. He could not stay where he was, that was certain, so he resolved to make the attempt. He took a long run through the first cave and the short corridor, then exerting all his strength he launched himself over the black gulf of the second cave. Swiftly he flew, and, although his heart stood still with fear, only a few seconds elapsed before his feet touched the ledge of the opposite passageway, and he knew he had safely accomplished the wonderful feat. Only pausing to draw one long breath of relief, Inga quickly traversed the crooked corridor that led to the last cavern of the three, but when he came inside of it he paused abruptly, his eyes nearly blinded by a glare of strong light which burst upon them. Covering his face with his hands, Inga retreated behind a projecting corner of rock, and by gradually getting his eyes used to the light, he was finally able to gaze without blinking upon the strange glare that had so quickly changed the condition of the cavern. When he had passed through this vault, it had been entirely empty. Now the flat floor of rock was covered everywhere with a bed of glowing coals, which shot up little tongues of red and white flames. Indeed, the entire cave was one monster furnace, and the heat that came from it was fearful. Inga's heart sank within him as he realized the terrible obstacle placed by the cunning gnome king between him and the safety of the other caverns. There was no turning back, for it would be impossible for him again to leap over the gulf of the second cave, the corridor at this side being so crooked that he could get no run before he jumped. Neither could he leap over the glowing coals of the cavern that faced him, for it was much larger than the middle cavern. In this dilemma he feared his great strength would avail him nothing, and he bitterly reproached himself for parting with the pink pearl, which would have preserved him from injury. However it was not in the nature of Prince Inga to despair for long. His past adventures, having taught him confidence and courage, sharpened his wits and given him the genius of invention. He sat down and thought earnestly on the means of escape from his danger, and at last a clever idea came to his mind. This is the way to get ideas, never to let adverse circumstances discourage you, but to believe there is a way out of every difficulty, which may be found by earnest thought. There were many points and projections of rock in the walls of the crooked corridor in which Inga stood, and some of these rocks had become cracked and loosened, although still clinging to their places. The boy picked out one large piece, and exerting all his strength tore it away from the wall. He then carried it to the cavern and tossed it upon the burning coals, about ten feet away from the end of the passage. Then he returned for another fragment of rock, and wrenching it free from its place he threw it ten feet beyond the first one, toward the opposite side of the cave. The boy continued this work until he had made a series of stepping stones reaching straight across the cavern to the dark passageway beyond, which he hoped would lead him back to safety, if not to liberty. When his work had been completed Inga did not long hesitate to take advantage of his stepping stones, for he knew his best chance of escape lay in his crossing the bed of coals before the rocks became so heated that they would burn his feet. So he leaped to the first rock, and from there began jumping from one to the other in quick succession. A withering wave of heat at once enveloped him, and for a time he feared he would suffocate before he could cross the cavern, but he held his breath to keep the hot air from his lungs and maintained his leaps with desperate resolve. Then before he realized it his feet were pressing the cooler rocks of the passage beyond, and he rolled helpless upon the floor, gasping for breath. His skin was so red that it resembled the shell of a boiled lobster, but his swift motion had prevented his being burned, and his shoes had thick soles which saved his feet. After resting a few minutes the boy felt strong enough to go on. He went to the end of the passage, and found that the rock door by which he had left his room was still closed. So he returned to about the middle of the corridor, and was thinking what he should do next, when suddenly the solid rock before him began to move, and an opening appeared through which shone a brilliant light. Shielding his eyes which were somewhat dazzled, Inga sprang through the opening, and found himself in one of the gnome king's inhabited caverns, where before him stood King Calico with a broad grin upon his features, and click the king's chamberlain, who looked surprised, and King Rinky Tink seated astride Bilbil the Goat, both of whom seemed pleased that Inga had rejoined them. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. We will now relate what happened to Rinky Tink and Bilbil that morning, while Inga was undergoing his trying experiences in escaping the fearful dangers of the three caverns. The king of Gilgad awakened to find the door of Inga's room fast shut and locked, but he had no trouble in opening his own door into the corridor, for it seems that the boy's room, which was the middle one, whirled around on a pivot, while the adjoining rooms occupied by Bilbil and Rinky Tink remained stationary. The little king also found a breakfast magically served in his room, and while he was eating it, click came to him and stated that his Majesty King Calico desired his presence in the royal cavern. So Rinky Tink, having first made sure that the pink pearl was still in his vest pocket, willingly followed click, who ran on some distance ahead. But no sooner had Rinky Tink set foot in the passage than a great rock weighing at least a ton became dislodged and dropped from the roof directly over his head. Of course it could not harm him, protected as he was by the pink pearl, and it bounded aside and crashed upon the floor, where it was shattered by its own weight. How careless exclaimed the little king, and waddled after click, who seemed amazed at his escape. Presently another rock above Rinky Tink plunged downward, and then another, but none touched his body. Click seemed much perplexed at these continued escapes, and certainly Calico was surprised when Rinky Tink, safe and sound, entered the royal cavern. Good morning, said the king of Gilgad. Your rocks are getting loose, Calico, and you'd better have them glued in place before they hurt someone. Then he began to chuckle. Hoo-hoo! Hee-hee! Hee-hee! Hee-hee! And Calico sat and frowned, because he realized that the little fat king was poking fun at him. I asked your majesty to come here, said the gnome king, to show you a curious skein of golden thread which my workmen have made. If it pleases you, I will make you a present of it. With this he held out a small skein of glittering gold twine, which was really pretty and curious. Rinky Tink took it in his hand, and at once the golden thread began to unwind, so swiftly that the eye could not follow its motion. And as it unwound it coiled itself around Rinky Tink's body, at the same time weaving itself into a net, until it had enveloped the little king from head to foot, and placed him in a prison of gold. Aha! cried Calico. This magic worked all right, it seems. Oh! did it, replied Rinky Tink? And stepping forward he walked right through the golden net, which fell to the floor in a tangled mass. Calico rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and stared hard at Rinky Tink. I understand a good bit of magic, said he, but your majesty has a sort of magic that greatly puzzles me, because it is unlike anything of the sort that I ever met with before. Now see here, Calico, said Rinky Tink, if you are trying to harm me or my companions, give it up, for you will never succeed. We're harm-proof, so to speak, and you are merely wasting your time trying to injure us. You may be right, and I hope I am not so impolite as to argue with a guest, return the known king, but you will pardon me if I am not yet satisfied that you are stronger than my famous magic. However, I beg you to believe that I bear you no ill will, King Rinky Tink, but it is my duty to destroy you if possible, because you and that insignificant boy prince have openly threatened to take away my captives, and have positively refused to go back to the earth's surface and let me alone. I am very tender-hearted, as a matter of fact, and I like you immensely and would enjoy having you as a friend, but—here he pressed a button on the arm of his throne-chair, and the section of the floor where Rinky Tink stood suddenly opened and disclosed a black pit beneath, which was a part of the terrible, bottomless gulf. But Rinky Tink did not fall into the pit. His body remained suspended in the air until he put out his foot and stepped to the solid floor, when the opening suddenly closed again. I appreciate your majesty's friendship, remarked Rinky Tink, as calmly as if nothing had happened, but I am getting tired with standing. Will you kindly send for my goat Bilbil that I may sit upon his back to rest? Indeed I will, promised Calico. I have not yet completed my test of your magic, and as I owe that goat a slight grudge for bumping my head and smashing my second best crown, I will be glad to discover if the beast can also escape my delightful little sorceries. So Click was sent to fetch Bilbil and presently returned with the goat, which was very crossed this morning because it had not slept well in the underground caverns. Rinky Tink lost no time in getting upon the red velvet saddle, which the goat constantly wore, for he feared the gnome king would try to destroy Bilbil, and knew that as long as his body touched that of the goat, the pink pearl would protect them both, whereas if Bilbil stood alone, there was no magic to save him. Bilbil glared wickedly at King Calico, who moved uneasily in his ivory throne. Then the gnome king whispered a moment in the ear of Click who nodded and left the room. Please make yourselves at home here for a few minutes while I attend to an errand, said the gnome king, getting up from the throne. I shall return pretty soon, when I hope to find you peaceful. Ha, ha, ha! That's a joke you can't appreciate now, but will later. Be peaceful, that's the idea. Ho, ho, ho! How funny! Then he waddled from the cavern, closing the door behind him. Well, why didn't you laugh when Calico laughed, demanded the goat, when they were left alone in the cavern? Because he means mischief of some sort, replied Rinky Tink, and will laugh after the danger is over, Bilbil. There's an old adage that says he laughs best who laughs last, and the only way to laugh last is to give the other fellow a chance. Where did that knife come from, I wonder? For a long sharp knife suddenly appeared in the air near them, twisting and turning from side to side, and darting here and there in a dangerous manner, without any support whatever. Then another knife became visible, and another and another, until all the space in the royal cavern seemed filled with them. Their sharp points and edges darted toward Rinky Tink and Bilbil perpetually, and nothing could have saved them from being cut to pieces except the protecting power of the pink pearl. As it was, not a knife touched them, and even Bilbil gave a gruff laugh at the failure of Calico's clever magic. The goat wandered here and there in the cavern, carrying Rinky Tink upon his back, and neither of them paid the slightest heed to the whirring knives, although the glitter of the hundreds of polished blades was rather trying to their eyes. Perhaps for ten minutes the knives started about them in bewildering fury. Then they disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared. Calico cautiously stuck his head through the doorway, and found the goat chewing the embroidery of his royal cloak, which he had left lying over the throne, while Rinky Tink was reading his manuscript on how to be good, and chuckling over its advice. The gnome king seemed greatly disappointed as he came in and resumed his seat on the throne, said Rinky Tink with a chuckle. We've really had a peaceful time, Calico, although not the peaceful time you expected. Forgive me if I indulge in a laugh. Hoo hoo, hee hee. And now tell me, aren't you getting tired of trying to injure us? Eh, said the gnome king, I see now that your magic can protect you from all my arts. But is the boy Inga as well protected as your majesty and the goat? Why do you ask, inquired Rinky Tink, uneasy at the question because he remembered he had not seen the little prince of Pingari that morning? Because, said Calico, the boy has been undergoing trials far greater and more dangerous than any you have encountered, and it has been hundreds of years since anyone has been able to escape alive from the perils of my three trick caverns. King Rinky Tink was much alarmed at hearing this, for although he knew that Inga possessed the blue pearl, that would only give to him marvelous strength, and perhaps strength alone would not enable him to escape from danger. But he would not let Calico see the fear he felt for Inga's safety, so he said in a careless way, you're a mighty poor magician, Calico, and I'll give you my crown if Inga hasn't escaped any danger you have threatened him with. Your whole crown is not worth one of the valuable diamonds in my crown, answered the gnome king, but I'll take it. Let us go at once, therefore, and see what has become of the boy prince, for if he is not destroyed by this time I will admit he cannot be injured by any of the magic arts which I have at my command. He left the room accompanied by Klick, who had now rejoined his master, and by Rinky Tink riding upon Bilbil. After traversing several of the huge caverns, they entered one that was somewhat more bright and cheerful than the others, where the gnome king paused before a wall of rock. Then Klick pressed a secret spring and a section of the wall opened and disclosed the corridor, where prince Inga stood facing them. Tarts and tadpoles cried Calico in surprise. The boy is still alive. End of chapter 19 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Rinky Tink and Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 20 Dorothy to the Rescue One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glinda the Good, who is Ozma's royal sorceress, she was looking through Glinda's great book of records, wherein is inscribed all important events that happen in every part of the world. When she came upon the record of the destruction of Pingari, the capture of King Kitakut and Queen Giri and all their people, and the curious escape of Inga, the boy prince, and of King Rinky Tink and the talking goat. Turning over some of the following pages, Dorothy read how Inga had found the magic pearls, and was rowing the silver-lined boat to Regos to try to rescue his parents. The little girl was much interested to know how well Inga succeeded, but she returned to the palace of Ozma at the Emerald City of Oz the next day, and other events made her forget the boy prince of Pingari for a time. However, she was one day idly looking at Ozma's magic picture, which shows any scene you may wish to see, when the girl thought of Inga and commanded the magic picture to show what the boy was doing at that moment. It was the time when Inga and Rinky Tink had followed the king of Regos and queen of Corrigos to the Nome King's country, and she saw them hiding behind the rock as Cor and Ghost passed them by, after having placed the king and queen of Pingari in the keeping of the Nome King. From that time Dorothy followed by means of the magic picture, the adventures of Inga and his friends in the Nome King's caverns, and the danger and helplessness of the poor boy aroused the little girl's pity and indignation. So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl ruler of Oz all about Inga and Rinky Tink. I think Calico is treating them dreadfully mean, declared Dorothy, and I wish you'd let me go to the Nome country and help them out of their troubles. Go, my dear, if you wish to, replied Ozma, but I think it would be best for you to take the wizard with you. Oh, I'm not afraid of the Nome, said Dorothy, but I'll be glad to take the wizard for company. And may we use your magic carpet, Ozma? Of course! Put the magic carpet in the red wagon, and have the saw-horse take you and the wizard to the edge of the desert. While you are gone, Dorothy, I'll watch you in the magic picture, and if any danger threatens you, I'll see you are not harmed. Dorothy thanked the ruler of Oz and kissed her goodbye, for she was determined to start at once. She found the wizard of Oz who was planting shoe-trees in the garden, and when she told him Inga's story he willingly agreed to accompany the little girl to the Nome king's caverns. They had both been there before, and had conquered the Nomes with ease, so they were not at all afraid. The wizard, who was a cheery little man with a bald head and a winning smile, harnessed the wooden saw-horse to the red wagon, and loaded on Ozma's magic carpet. Then he and Dorothy climbed to the seat, and the saw-horse started off and carried them swiftly through the beautiful land of Oz to the edge of the deadly desert that separated their fairy land from the Nome country. Even Dorothy and the clever wizard would not have dared to cross the desert without the aid of the magic carpet, for it would have quickly destroyed them, but when the roll of carpet had been placed upon the edge of the sands, leaving just enough lying flat for them to stand upon, the carpet straight away began to unroll before them, and as they walked on it continued to unroll, until they had safely passed over the stretch of deadly desert, and were on the border of the Nome king's dominions. This journey had been accomplished in a few minutes, although such a distance would have required several days' travel had they not been walking on the magic carpet. On arriving they at once walked toward the entrance to the caverns of the Nomes. The wizard carried a little black bag containing his tools of wizardry, while Dorothy carried over her arm a covered basket in which she had placed a dozen eggs, with which to conquer the Nomes if she had any trouble with them. Eggs may seem to you to be a queer weapon with which to fight, but the little girl well knew their value. The Nomes are immortal, that is, they do not perish as mortals do, unless they happen to come in contact with an egg. If an egg touches them, either the outer shell or the inside of the egg, the Nomes lose their charm of perpetual life, and thereafter are liable to die through accident or old age just as all humans are. For this reason the sight of an egg fills a gnome with terror, and he will do anything to prevent an egg from touching him, even for an instant. So when Dorothy took her basket of eggs with her, she knew that she was more powerfully armed than if she had a regiment of soldiers at her back. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Rinky Tink and Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 21 The Wizard Finds an Enchantment After Calico had failed in his attempts to destroy his guests, as has been related, the gnome king did nothing more to injure them, but treated them in a friendly manner. He refused, however, to permit Inga to see or to speak with his father and mother, or even to know in what part of the underground caverns they were confined. You are able to protect your lives and persons, I freely admit, said Calico, but I firmly believe you have no power, either of magic or otherwise, to take from me the captives I have agreed to keep for King Ghost. Inga would not agree to this. He determined not to leave the caverns until he had liberated his father and mother, although he did not then know how that could be accomplished. As for Rinky Tink, the jelly king was well fed and had a good bed to sleep upon, so he was not worrying about anything and seemed in no hurry to go away. Calico and Rinky Tink were engaged in pitching a game with solid gold coits on the floor of the royal chamber, and Inga and Bilbil were watching them when Klick came running in, his hair standing on end with excitement, and cried out that the Wizard of Oz and Dorothy were approaching. Calico turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news, and, abandoning his game, went to sit in his ivory throne, and tried to think what had brought these fearful visitors to his domain. Who is Dorothy? asked Inga. She is a little girl who once lived in Kansas, replied Klick with a shutter, but she now lives in Ozma's palace at the Emerald City and is a princess of Oz, which means that she is a terrible foe to deal with. Doesn't she like the gnomes, inquired the boy? It isn't that, said King Calico with a groan, but she insists on the gnomes being goody-goody, which is contrary to their natures. Dorothy gets angry if I do the least thing that is wicked, and tries to make me stop it, and that naturally makes me downhearted. I can't imagine why she has come here just now, for I've been behaving very well lately. As for that Wizard of Oz, he's chock full of magic that I can't overcome, for he learned it from Glinda, who is the most powerful sorceress in the world. Woe is me! Why didn't Dorothy and the Wizard stay in Oz where they belong? Inga and Rikitink listened to this with much joy, for at once the idea came to them both to plead with Dorothy to help them. Even Bilbil pricked up his ears when he heard the Wizard of Oz mentioned, and the goat seemed much less surly and more thoughtful than usual. A few minutes later a gnome came to say that Dorothy and the Wizard had arrived and demanded admittance, so Klick was sent to usher them into the royal presence of the gnome king. As soon as she came in, the little girl ran up to the boy prince and seized both his hands. Oh Inga, she exclaimed, I'm so glad to find you alive and well. Inga was astonished at so warm a greeting, making a low bow, he said. I don't think we have met before, princess. No indeed, replied Dorothy, but I know all about you, and I've come to help you and King Rikitink out of your troubles. Then she turned to the gnome king and continued, You ought to be ashamed of yourself, King Calico, to treat an honest prince and an honest king so badly. I haven't done anything to them, wind Calico, trembling as her eyes flashed upon him. No, but you tried to, and that's just as bad if not worse, said Dorothy, who was very indignant. And now I want you to send for the king and queen of Pingaree, and have them brought here immediately. I won't, said Calico. Yes, you will, cried Dorothy, stamping her foot at him. I won't have those poor people made unhappy any longer or separated from their little boy. Why, it's dreadful, Calico, and I'm surprised at you. You must be more wicked than I thought you were. I can't do it, Dorothy, said the gnome king, almost weeping with despair. I promised King Ghosts I'd keep them captive. You wouldn't ask me to break my promise, would you? King Ghosts was a robber and an outlaw, she said, and perhaps you don't know that a storm at sea wrecked his vote, while he was going back to Rigos, and that he and Queen Core were both drowned. Dear me, exclaimed Calico, is that so? I saw it in Glinda's record book, said Dorothy, so now you trot out the king and queen of Pingary as quick as you can. No persisted the contrary gnome king shaking his head. I won't do it. Ask me anything else, and I'll try to please you, but I can't allow these friendly enemies to triumph over me. In that case, said Dorothy, beginning to remove the cover from her basket. I'll show you some eggs. Eggs, screamed the gnome king in horror. Have you eggs in that basket? A dozen of them replied, Dorothy. Then keep them there, I beg, I implore you, and I'll do anything you say, pleaded Calico, his teeth chattering so that he could hardly speak. Send for the king and queen of Pingary, said Dorothy. Go click, commanded the gnome king, and click ran away in great haste, for he was almost as much frightened as his master. It was an affecting scene when the unfortunate king and queen of Pingary entered the chamber, and with sobs and tears of joy embraced their brave and adventurous son. All the others stood silent until greetings and kisses had been exchanged, and Inga had told his parents in a few words of his vain struggles to rescue them, and how Princess Dorothy had finally come to his assistance. Then King Kitakat shook the hands of his friend King Rikitink, and thanked him for so loyally supporting his son Inga, and Queen Giri kissed little Dorothy's forehead, and blessed her for restoring her husband and herself to freedom. The wizard had been standing near Bilbil the goat, and now he was surprised to hear the animal say, joyful reunion, isn't it? But it makes me tired to see grown people cry like children. Oho! exclaimed the wizard. How does it happen, Mr. Goat, that you, who have never been to the land of Oz, are able to talk? That's my business, returned Bilbil, in a surly tone. The wizard stooped down and gazed fixedly into the animal's eyes. Then he said with a pitying sigh, I see you are under an enchantment. Indeed, I believe you to be Prince Bobo of Boboland. Bilbil made no reply, but dropped his head as if ashamed. This is a great discovery, said the wizard, addressing Dorothy and the others of the party. A good many years ago a cruel magician transformed the gallant prince of Boboland into a talking goat, and this goat, being ashamed of his condition, ran away and was never after seen in Boboland, which is a country far to the south of here but bordering on the deadly desert opposite the land of Oz. I heard of this story long ago, and know that a diligent search has been made for the enchanted prince without result. But I am well assured that, in the animal you call Bilbil, I have discovered the unhappy prince of Boboland. Dear me, Bilbil, said Rinky Tink, why have you never told me of this? What would be the use, asked Bilbil in a low voice and still refusing to look up? The use, repeated Rinky Tink puzzled. Yes, that's the trouble, said the wizard. It is one of the most powerful enchantments ever accomplished, and the magician is now dead and the secret of the anti-charm lost. Even I, with all my skill, cannot restore Prince Bobo to his proper form. But I think Glinda might be able to do so, and if you will all return with Dorothy and me to the land of Oz, where Ozma will make you welcome, I will ask Glinda to try to break this enchantment. This was willingly agreed to, for they all welcomed the chance to visit the famous land of Oz. So they bade goodbye to King Calico, whom Dorothy warned not to be wicked any more, if he could help it. And the entire party returned over the magic carpet to the land of Oz. They filled the red wagon, which was still waiting for them, pretty full, but the saw-horse didn't mind that, and with wonderful speed carried them safely to the Emerald City. End of Chapter 21 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Rinky Tink and Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 22 Ozma's Banquet Ozma had seen in her magic picture the liberation of Inga's parents and the departure of the entire party for the Emerald City. So with her usual hospitality, she ordered a splendid banquet prepared, and invited all her quaint friends, who were then in the Emerald City, to be present that evening to meet the strangers who were to become her guests. Glinda also, in her wonderful record book, had learned of the events that had taken place in the Caverns of the Gnome King, and she became especially interested in the enchantment of the Prince of Boa Land. So she hastily prepared several of her most powerful charms, and then summoned her flock of sixteen white storks, which swiftly bore her to Ozma's palace. She arrived there before the red wagon did, and was warmly greeted by the girl ruler. Realizing that the costume of Queen Garry of Pingari must have become sadly worn and frayed, owing to her hardships and adventures, Ozma ordered a royal outfit prepared for the Good Queen, and had it laid in her chamber ready for her to put on as soon as she arrived, so she would not be shamed at the banquet. New costumes were also provided for King Kitakut and King Rinkitink and Prince Inga, all cut and made and embellished in the elaborate and becoming style then prevalent in the land of Oz. And as soon as the party arrived at the palace, Ozma's guests were escorted by her servants to their rooms, that they might bathe and dress themselves. Glinda the Sorceress and the Wizard of Oz took charge of Bilbil the Goat, and went to a private room where they were not likely to be interrupted. Glinda first questioned Bilbil long and earnestly about the manner of his enchantment, and the ceremony that had been used by the magician who enchanted him. At first Bilbil protested that he did not want to be restored to his natural shape, saying that he had been forever disgraced in the eyes of his people, and of the entire world by being obliged to exist as a scrawny, scraggly goat. But Glinda pointed out that any person who incurred the enmity of a wicked magician was liable to suffer a similar fate, and assured him that his misfortune would make him better beloved by his subjects when he returned to them freed from his dire enchantment. Bilbil was finally convinced of the truth of this assertion, and agreed to submit to the experiments of Glinda and the Wizard, who knew they had a hard task before them, and were not at all sure that they could succeed. We know that Glinda is the most complete mistress of magic who has ever existed, and she was wise enough to guess that the clever but evil magician who had enchanted Prince Bobo had used a spell that would puzzle any ordinary wizard or sorcerer to break. Therefore she had given the matter much shrewd thought, and hoped she had conceived a plan that would succeed. But because she was not positive of success, she would have no one present at the incantation except her assistant, the Wizard of Oz. First she transformed Bilbil the goat into a lamb, and this was done quite easily. Next she transformed the lamb into an ostrich, giving it two legs and feet instead of four. Then she tried to transform the ostrich into the original Prince Bobo, but this incantation was an utter failure. Glinda was not discouraged, however, but by a powerful spell transformed the ostrich into a Tottenhot, which is a lower form of a man. Then the Tottenhot was transformed into a Mithkit, which was a great step in advance, and finally Glinda transformed the Mithkit into a handsome young man, tall and shapely, who fell on his knees before the great sorceress and gratefully kissed her hand, admitting that he had now recovered his proper shape and was indeed Prince Bobo of Bobo land. This process of magic, successful though it was in the end, had required so much time that the banquet was now awaiting their presence. Bobo was already dressed in princely raiment, and although he seemed very much humbled by his recent lowly condition, they finally persuaded him to join the festivities. When Rinky Tink saw that his goat had now become a prince, he did not know whether to be sorry or glad, for he felt that he would miss the companionship of the quarrelsome animal he had so long been accustomed to ride upon, while at the same time he rejoiced that poor Bill Bill had come to his own again. Prince Bobo humbly begged Rinky Tink's forgiveness, for having been so disagreeable to him at times, saying that the nature of a goat had influenced him and the surly disposition he had shown was a part of his enchantment. But the jolly king assured the prince that he had really enjoyed Bill Bill's grumpy speeches, and forgave him readily. Indeed they all discovered the young Prince Bobo to be an exceedingly courteous and pleasant person, although he was somewhat reserved and dignified. Ah, but it was a great feast that Osma served in her gorgeous banquet hall that night, and everyone was as happy as could be. The shaggy man was there, and so was Jack Pumpkinhead and the tin woodman and Catten Bill. Beside Princess Dorothy sat tiny trot and Betsy Bobbin, and the three little girls were almost as sweet to look upon as was Osma, who sat at the head of her table and outshone all her guests in loveliness. King Rinky Tink was delighted with the quaint people of Oz, and laughed and joked with the tin man and the pumpkin-headed man, and found Catten Bill a very agreeable companion. But what amused the jolly king most were the animal guests, which Osma always invited to her banquets, and seated at a table by themselves, where they talked and chatted together as people do, but were served the sort of food their natures required. The hungry tiger and cowardly lion and the glass cat were much admired by Rinky Tink, but when he met a mule named Hank, which Betsy Bobbin had brought to Oz, the king found the creature so comical that he laughed and chuckled until his friends thought he would choke. Then, while the banquet was still in progress, Rinky Tink composed and sang a song to the mule, and they all joined in the chorus, which was something like this. It's very queer how big an ear is worn by Mr. Dunkey, and yet I fear he could not hear, if it were on a monkey, to stick and strong and broad and long, and also very hairy. It's quite becoming to our Hank, but might disgrace a fairy. This song was received with so much enthusiasm that Rinky Tink was prevailed upon to sing another. They gave him a little time to compose the rhyme, which he declared would be better if he could devote a month or two to its composition. But the sentiment he expressed was so admirable that no one criticized the song or the manner in which the jolly little king sang it. Dorothy wrote down the words on a piece of paper, and here they are. We're merry comrades all tonight, because we've won a gallant fight, and conquered all our foes. We're not afraid of anything, so let us gaily laugh and sing, until we seek repose. We've all our grateful hearts can wish. King Ghost has gone to feed the fish. Queen Core has gone as well. King Kitty-Cut has found his own. Prince Bobo soon will have a throne, relieved of magic spell. So let's forget the hard strife that fell upon our peaceful life, and cause distress and pain, for very soon across the sea we'll all be sailing merrily to Pingaree again. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Rinky Tink and Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 23 The Pearl Kingdom It was unfortunate that the famous scarecrow, the most popular person in all Oz next to Osma, was absent at the time of the banquet, for he happened just then to be making one of his trips through the country. But the scarecrow had a chance later to meet Rinky Tink and Inga and the King and Queen of Pingaree and Prince Bobo, for the party remained several weeks at the Emerald City, where they were royally entertained and where both the gentle Queen Giri and the noble King Kitty-Cut recovered much of their good spirits and composure and tried to forget their dreadful experiences. At last, however, the King and Queen desired to return to their own Pingaree as they longed to be with their people again and see how well they had rebuilt their homes. Inga also was anxious to return, although he had been very happy in Oz, and King Rinky Tink, who was happy anywhere except at Gilgad, decided to go with his former friends to Pingaree. As for Prince Bobo, he had become so greatly attached to King Rinky Tink that he was loath to leave him. On a certain day they bade goodbye to Osma and Dorothy and Glinda and the Wizard, and all their good friends in Oz, and were driven in the red wagon to the edge of the deadly desert, which they crossed safely on the magic carpet. They then made their way across the Gnome Kingdom and the Wheeler Country, where no one molested them, to the shores of the nonestic ocean. There they found the boat with the silver lining, still lying undisturbed on the beach. There were no important adventures during the trip, and on their arrival at the Pearl Kingdom, they were amazed at the beautiful appearance of the island they had left in ruins. All the houses of the people had been rebuilt, and were prettier than before, with green lawns before them and flower gardens in the backyards. The marble towers of King Kitakut's new palace were very striking and impressive, while the palace itself proved far more magnificent than it had been before the warriors from Rigos destroyed it. Nickabob had been very active and skillful in directing all this work, and he had also built a pretty cottage for himself, not far from the king's palace, and there Inga found Zella, who was living very happy and contented in her new home. Not only had Nickabob accomplished all this in a comparatively brief space of time, but he had started the Pearl Fisheries again, and when King Kitakut returned to Pingari he found a quantity of fine pearls already in the royal treasury. So pleased was Kitakut with the good judgment industry and honesty of the former charcoal burner of Rigos, that he made Nickabob his Lord High Chamberlain and put him in charge of the Pearl Fisheries and all the business matters of the island kingdom. They all settled down very comfortably in the new palace, and the queen gathered her maids about her once more, and set them to work embroidering new draperies for the royal throne. Inga placed the three magic pearls in their silken bag, and again deposited them in the secret cavity under the tiled flooring of the banquet hall, where they could be quickly secured if danger ever threatened the now prosperous island. King Rikitink occupied a royal guest chamber built especially for his use, and seemed in no hurry to leave his friends in Pingari. The fat little king had to walk wherever he went, and so missed Bilbil more and more, but he seldom walked far, and he was so fond of Prince Bobo that he never regretted Bilbil's disenchantment. Indeed the jolly monarch was welcomed to remain forever in Pingari if he wished to, for his merry dispositions set smiles on the faces of all his friends, and made everyone near him as jolly as he was himself. When King Kitikat was not too busy with affairs of state, he loved to join his guest and listen to his brother monarch's songs and stories. For he found Rikitink to be, with all his careless disposition, a shrewd philosopher, and in talking over their adventures one day, the king of Gilgad said, The beauty of life is its sudden changes. No one knows what is going to happen next, and so we are constantly being surprised and entertained. The many ups and downs should not discourage us, for if we are down we know that a change is coming, and we will go up again, while those who are up are almost certain to go down. My grandfather had a song which well expresses this, and if you will listen I will sing it. Of course I will listen to your song, returned Kitikat, for it would be impolite not to. So Rikitink sang his grandfather's song. A mighty king once ruled the land, but now he's baking pies. A pauper, on the other hand, is ruling strong and wise. A tiger once in jungles raged, but now he's in a zoo. A lion captive, born and caged, now roams the forest through. A man once slapped a poor boy's pate, and made him weep and wail. The boy became a magistrate, and put the man in jail. A sunny day succeeds the night. It's summer, then it snows. Right oft goes wrong, and wrong comes right, as every wise man knows. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Rikitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 24 The Captive King One morning, just as the royal party was finishing breakfast, a servant came running to say that a great fleet of boats was approaching the island from the south. King Kitikat sprang up at once in great alarm, for he had much cause to fear strange boats. The others quickly followed him to the shore to see what invasion might be coming upon them. Inga was there with the first, and Nicobab and Zella soon joined the watchers. And presently, while all were gazing eagerly at the approaching fleet, King Rikitink suddenly cried out, Get your pearls, Prince Inga, get them quick! Are these our enemies, then? asked the boy, looking with surprise upon the fat little king, who had begun to tremble violently. They are my people of Gilgad, answered Rikitink, wiping a tear from his eye. I recognize my royal standards flying from the boats. So please, dear Inga, get out your pearls to protect me. What can you fear at the hands of your own subjects? asked Kitikat, astonished. But before his frightened guest could answer the question, Prince Bobo, who was standing before his friend, gave an amused laugh and said, You are caught at last, dear Rikitink, your people will take you home again and oblige you to reign as king. Rikitink groaned aloud, and clasped his hands together with a gesture of despair, an attitude so comical that the others could scarcely forbear laughing. But now the boats were landing upon the beach. There were fifty in number, beautifully decorated and upholstered, and rode by men clad in the gay uniforms of the king of Gilgad. One splendid boat had a throne of gold in the center, over which was draped the king's royal robe of purple velvet, embroidered with gold butter-cups. Rikitink shuddered when he saw this throne, but now a tall man, handsomely dressed, approached and knelt upon the grass before his king, while all the other occupants of the boats shouted joyfully and waved their plume tats in the air. Thanks to our good fortune, said the man who kneeled, we have found your majesty at last. Pinker blue answered Rikitink sternly, I must have you hanged for thus finding me against my will. You think so now, your majesty, but you will never do it, returned Pinker blue, rising and kissing the king's hand. Why won't I, asked Rikitink? Because you are much too tender-hearted, your majesty. It may be, it may be, agreed Rikitink sadly. It is one of my greatest failings. But what chance brought you here, my lord Pinker blue? We have searched for you everywhere, sire, and all the people of Gilgad have been in despair since you so mysteriously disappeared. We could not appoint a new king, because we did not know, but that you still lived. So we set out to find you dead or alive. After visiting many islands of the nonestic ocean, we at last thought of Pingary, from where come the precious pearls, and now our faithful quest has been rewarded. And what now, asked Rikitink? Now, your majesty, you must come home with us, like a good and dutiful king, and rule over your people, to clear the man in a firm voice. I will not. But you must, begging your majesty's pardon for the contradiction. Kiddacut cried poor Rikitink, you must save me from being captured by these my subjects. What? Must I return to Gilgad and be forced to reign in splendid state, when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne three hours a day, and listen to dry and tedious affairs of state, and I must stand up for hours at the court receptions, till I get corns on my heels, and forever must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless petitions and complaints. But someone must do this, your majesty, said Pinkerblue respectfully, and since you were born to be our king, you cannot escape your duty. Tis a horrid fate, moaned Rikitink, I would die willingly rather than be a king, if it did not hurt so terribly to die. You will find it much more comfortable to reign than to die, although I fully appreciate your majesty's difficult position, and am truly sorry for you, said Pinkerblue. King Kiddacut had listened to this conversation thoughtfully, so now he said to his friend, The man is right, dear Rikitink, it is your duty to reign since fate has made you a king, and I see no honorable escape for you. I shall grieve to lose your companionship, but I feel the separation cannot be avoided. Rikitink sighed. Then said he, turning to Lord Pinkerblue, In three days I will depart with you for Gilgad, but during those three days I proposed to feast and make merry with my good friend King Kiddacut. Then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight, and eagerly scrambled ashore to take part in the festival. Those three days were long remembered in Pingary, for never before nor since has such feasting and jollity been known upon that island. Rikitink made the most of his time, and everyone laughed and sang with him by day and by night. Then at last the hour of parting arrived, and the king of Gilgad and ruler of the dominion of Rikitink was escorted by a grand procession to his boat, and seated upon his golden throne. The rowers of the fifty boats paused with their glittering oars pointed into the air like gigantic uplifted sabers, while the people of Pingary, men, women, and children stood upon the shore shouting a royal farewell to the jolly king. Then came a sudden hush, while Rikitink stood up and, with a bow to those assembled to witness his departure, sang the following song which he had just composed for the occasion. Farewell, dear Isle of Pingary, the fairest land in all the sea, no living mortals, kings, or churls, would scorn to wear thy precious pearls. King Kiddicutt, tis with regret, I am forced to say farewell, and yet, abroad no longer can I roam, when fifty boats would drag me home. Good-bye, my prince of Pingary, and noble king, some time you'll be, and long and wisely may you reign, and never face a foe again. They cheered him from the shore, they cheered him from the boats, and then all the oars of the fifty boats swept downward with a single motion, and dipped their blades into the purple-hued waters of the nonestic ocean. As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea, Rinkitink turned to Prince Bobo, who had decided not to desert his former master and his present friend, and asked anxiously, How did you like that song, Bilbil? I mean Bobo. Is it a masterpiece, do you think? And Bobo replied with a smile, Like all your songs, dear Rinkitink, the sentiment far excels the poetry. End of Chapter Twenty-Four. End of Rinkitink and Oz by L. Frank Baum. Recorded by Judy Bieber. January, 2008.